'The unified textbook set must be modern and professional'

Calling for talent to build a book series

According to MSc. Le Ngoc Diep - former Head of the Primary Education Department (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training), the compilation of a unified set of textbooks nationwide following the direction of Resolution 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo must be a comprehensive innovation, in line with the trend of integration and modernization of the country.

According to him, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to proactively assign, manage and implement immediately. The process must be fast, careful and scientific. It is necessary to invite domestic talents and overseas Vietnamese to participate in the compilation, in the spirit of "hunting for brains", absolutely avoiding localism.

"The compilation of books must be undertaken by leading experts in the fields of social sciences, natural sciences, aesthetics and education . At the same time, it is necessary to send research teams to study educational models in countries such as Singapore, Korea, Japan, Australia, China, etc. to draw lessons and propose appropriate approaches," Mr. Diep suggested.

Primary school students in Ho Chi Minh City at the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year. Photo: KT

In addition, this expert also believes that another important factor is to improve the quality of the teaching staff, because there cannot be a good set of textbooks if teachers do not have the capacity to convey them.

Just as doctors must be able to diagnose and treat patients after graduating, teachers must be qualified to teach the new curriculum with only methodological guidance. “Hand-holding” cannot be maintained forever.

Currently, many localities are lacking teachers, and even if enough numbers are recruited, the quality is not guaranteed. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the quality of teacher training, and at the same time have policies to increase salaries and allowances so that teachers can live and devote themselves to their profession. "Respecting teachers" is not just a slogan but must be demonstrated through the actual position of teachers in society.

Need a specialized team

MSc. Le Ngoc Diep said that while still working, at a national conference in 1993 in Hue City organized by the Ministry of Education and Training, he emphasized: The country is integrating and moving towards a modern industrial society, so the construction of textbooks must "look to the North, look to the South, look to the whole globe" to anticipate new knowledge.

Human knowledge today has doubled in just one year, which requires education, especially primary education, to change promptly and fundamentally.

"Primary Education" is the foundation level of education. Therefore, the primary school curriculum must reflect the characteristics of children in the digital age - children who are familiar with audio-visual technology, have the ability to absorb quickly and flexibly.

Whether in urban or rural areas, mountainous or plain areas, children need to have access to modern programs that are suitable for their psychology, culture and society. The mother tongue – Vietnamese – needs to be taught as a solid foundation tool, thereby helping children develop comprehensively.

This time, the textbook compilation will start from the unique characteristics of Vietnamese, and be distributed appropriately for each level of education, especially primary school, where the first foundation for personality and knowledge is laid. More importantly, this compilation process needs to closely follow the Resolution of the Party Central Committee on education, which is fundamental, comprehensive innovation, standardization, and modernization in the integration period. That is not only the task of the education sector, but also the common responsibility of the whole society for the future generations of the country.

Master Le Ngoc Diep (far right) at the 1993 national conference in Hue City. Photo: NVCC

For Vietnamese, this is not only a language but also a means of interdisciplinary communication. For example, when learning the sound “a”, students can practice simple statistical exercises, combining knowledge of phonics, fine arts, logical thinking - all cleverly integrated as a lively learning game.

“Textbooks cannot be compiled individually. From classroom facilities, teaching methods, to support tools, everything needs to be synchronized to create a truly modern and effective learning environment,” emphasized Master Le Ngoc Diep.

In addition, this expert also believes that textbook compilation cannot be a “side job” for those who work in management, teaching or research. It requires a team of specialists, well-trained, with practical experience and a high sense of responsibility. The publisher is not only a place of distribution but must become a unit that organizes and manages the quality of content.

Each year, the author of the book must participate in class observation, performance survey, practical assessment, revision of materials and updating of knowledge. The author also needs to play a role in guiding teachers, designing lectures, tests and building a reading culture for students.

"Vietnamese books need to be written by people who understand the souls of Vietnamese children (from 6 to 11 years old) with the passion and intelligence of an educator and linguist. Teach Vietnamese as a living language, not getting caught up in academic linguistic theories that are not suitable for primary school age.

Instead of asking students to distinguish between reduplicated words, compound words, or dissect sentences according to rigid grammatical structures, teach them through emotional, visual, easy-to-understand and familiar texts. Students need to love Vietnamese before being good at it," he said.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bo-sach-giao-khoa-thong-nhat-phai-hien-dai-chuyen-nghiep-post748462.html